Is my starter going out ?

[gapple12]

On my mx 6.2l Mpi Sterndrive, when starting it, the motor is slow to start and turn over every time. Symptom is similar to a low battery, but the boat has 2 brand new batteries and still has the issue. Could this be a bad starter or another issue with voltage feed of some sort ?

 

[kershawD]

Bad starter. I recently rebuilt my 5.7 v8 new starter and new batteries and was having the same problem . I swapped out the batteries because I thought the old batteries were bad but after seeing smoke come out of the starter with 2 1000mca batteries . I knew that it was the new starter causing the old batteries to drain dead.

 

[GA_Boater]

On my mx 6.2l Mpi Sterndrive, when starting it, the motor is slow to start and turn over every time. Symptom is similar to a low battery, but the boat has 2 brand new batteries and still has the issue. Could this be a bad starter or another issue with voltage feed of some sort ?

The best free thing to do is to clean all the power/ground cables and connection points until they are shiny bright. Examine the cables for corrosion and swelling as cables do go bad.

If that doesn't help, the starter or solenoid may be the culprit.

 

[ThomW]

Another possible culprit could be your grounds. Just check them and make sure they are all clean and tight. If not, take a wire brush and clean off any rust. Tighten them all up and see if it helps. Sometimes it can be as simple as a bad ground. Worth checking before you dive into a new starter!

 

[gapple12]

I will do all the above, thanks for the help. Everything looks very clean, but i will clean them again.

 

[Scott Danforth]

by clean and shiny, that means clean enough to eat off of.

I use a wire brush in the chordless drill.

 

[kenny nunez]

Last year when I first got my Donzi it had a lazy starter. When I pulled it off and opened it 2 of the 4 brushes were broken. The armature was black from arcing but just needed a cleaning. A new brush head was all it needed.
So if all the above does not help just pull it off and check it.

 

[gapple12]

So I found something interesting this weekend. While checking my on board dual charger, I noticed one battery was not reading on charge. So, pulled the fuse on that charge lead and it was blown. Replaced it and pop, it blew again. Seems my charger has not been charging that battery number 1 at all for who knows how long. I will need a new one. I then put the battery switch to BOTH batteries and started the motor. The problem of slow starting was gone. Now, both batteries are brand new this year, shouldn't my motor be charging these to full when im on the lake ? When I am on battery 1 its slow to start, set it to both, and it starts normal. This happens even after being on the lake all day tubing and skiing.

 

[Bt Doctur]

So I found something interesting this weekend. While checking my on board dual charger, I noticed one battery was not reading on charge. So, pulled the fuse on that charge lead and it was blown. Replaced it and pop, it blew again.

Yes the motors alt should be keeping the batteries charged. but keeping a charger on all the time can boil the electrolyte
out of the battery or cause a short in the battery.
Key on, read voltage gauge, start motor , idle to 1500 , gauge should show a increase if charging and working correctly.

 

[gapple12]

So I found something interesting this weekend. While checking my on board dual charger, I noticed one battery was not reading on charge. So, pulled the fuse on that charge lead and it was blown. Replaced it and pop, it blew again.

Yes the motors alt should be keeping the batteries charged. but keeping a charger on all the time can boil the electrolyte
out of the battery or cause a short in the battery.
Key on, read voltage gauge, start motor , idle to 1500 , gauge should show a increase if charging and working correctly.

So, on board chargers are not a good idea ? Ive always had one. I thought they maintained the batteries when not in use. I have a large stereo system with 3 amps and I like to insure all batteries are charged.

 

[Bt Doctur]

I feel that keeping a engine battery on constant charge hides the fact that its going bad. and you dont find out about until your out there with a dead/dying engine battery.
House batteries you can charge forever, they dont or shouldnt be allowed to start your engine .Even if you do kill the house battery you still have your engine battery
A jumper/combiner/isolator will charge the house from the engines alt and maintain a dedicated battery for the engine.

 

[gapple12]

I'll need to test my alternator and clean all my connections really well. Something isn't right. Once I get a new battery charger, Im thinking I will add a 12 hour timer inline on my outlet so it kills the charger and wont run all the time in my storage unit.

 

[GA_Boater]

Maybe the charger is blowing the fuse because the battery is bad. New batteries can go bad.

Swap the charger leads on the batteries to see if the fuse blowing follows the leads or battery.

 

[gapple12]

Maybe the charger is blowing the fuse because the battery is bad. New batteries can go bad.

Swap the charger leads on the batteries to see if the fuse blowing follows the leads or battery.

I did that, and the fuse didnt pop. The battery charged up and started the motor fine.